OTTAWA REAL ESTATE
HN Homes Ottawa: Communities, Models & Prices
Last updated: October 2026 · By Jason Polonski, REALTOR®, Right at Home Realty
HN Homes is a small Ottawa builder known for modern homes designed by architect Christopher Simmonds. It is building at The Pond in Kanata Lakes and in Riverside South, offering single-family homes, bungalows with optional lofts and townhomes in much lower volumes than large production builders.
If you have toured HN’s models, you will have noticed they don’t look like a typical suburban street: large windows, clean rooflines, open and bright interiors. This guide covers where HN builds, each model family, what that design approach means for price and maintenance, how deposits, Tarion and the HST rebates work at HN’s price points, and how to time the sale of your current home with an HN closing.
HN Homes at a Glance
- Official website: hnhomes.com
- Architect: Christopher Simmonds, an award-winning Ottawa architect.
- Communities: The Pond at Kanata Lakes (Kanata North) and Riverside South (south Ottawa), with Rideau Ridge listed as upcoming. HN’s homes at Cowan’s Grove in Leitrim have sold out.
- Home types: Single-family homes, bungalows with optional lofts, townhomes, and Urban Towns and Terra Townhomes (Riverside South only).
- Kanata Lakes size ranges (per HN): singles about 2,008 to 3,637 sq. ft., bungalows about 1,474 to 2,118 sq. ft., townhomes about 1,414 to 2,523 sq. ft.
- Recognition: GOHBA Housing Design Awards from 2015 to 2017, including two 2017 awards for The Hutton. HN also says it was named Ottawa’s Builder of the Year for 2025 and Ontario’s Top Small Volume Builder for 2026.
- Warranty: Every home is enrolled with Tarion.
Who Is HN Homes?
HN Homes builds in Riverside South and expanded to Kanata North with The Pond at Kanata Lakes, its first project there, alongside Urbandale and Richcraft.
HN is a small-volume builder. Instead of offering dozens of plans across many communities, it offers a curated set of designs in a few. Its partner on design is Christopher Simmonds, an Ottawa architect known for modern residential work. HN’s elevations show that influence: bigger and more carefully placed windows, simpler massing, and interiors arranged around natural light and sightlines rather than separate formal rooms.
HN builds alongside larger companies in master-planned communities. At The Pond it builds next to Urbandale and Richcraft, the developers of Kanata Lakes, and it built Cowan’s Grove in Leitrim with Urbandale. That means you get a design-led home inside a fully planned community with parks, trails, schools and services.
HN has won several Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) Housing Design Awards. In 2017 The Hutton won in the production single detached category and for its bathroom. HN also says it was named Ottawa’s Builder of the Year for 2025 and Ontario’s Top Small Volume Builder for 2026.
Where HN Homes Builds in Ottawa
The Pond at Kanata Lakes
The Pond is the newest part of Kanata Lakes, a master-planned community in Kanata North. Urbandale, Richcraft and HN build there, and the plan calls for about 2,600 homes across three phases. The first phase, Phase 9, has just under 500 townhomes, bungalows and two-storey singles. It is HN’s first project in Kanata North.
The location is the main draw. You are minutes from the Kanata North tech park, Kanata Centrum, the Canadian Tire Centre and Highway 417, with trails, ponds and a large share of protected green space in the wider community. Schools serving Kanata Lakes include Earl of March Secondary School (OCDSB, Grades 7 to 12), All Saints Catholic High School (Grades 7 to 12), St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School and Kanata Highlands Public School. Confirm the boundary for your street with the OCDSB or the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
HN offers all three home types here. Its Hutton bungalow with loft was listed in Kanata Lakes in fall 2026 from about $1.14 million for the two-bedroom version. Townhomes start well below that, but pricing changes by release.
One thing to know before buying: the former Kanata golf course lands nearby received zoning and draft plan approval from the Ontario Land Tribunal in January 2026, and the City has asked for an independent drainage assessment. It doesn’t affect The Pond directly, but there will be more construction and traffic in the wider area for years.
For the resale side and lifestyle, see my Kanata Lakes neighbourhood guide, is Kanata a good place to live? and new homes for sale in Kanata.
Riverside South
Riverside South is where HN started in 2014. It sits on the east bank of the Rideau River, across from Barrhaven and between Manotick and the airport. It is the only community where HN offers its Urban Towns and Terra Townhomes. Its single-family plans here include the Rockway and the Haydon.
The extended O-Train Line 2 runs to Limebank Station, with service that began in January 2025. The City is also planning a new community centre, library and district park near the station. Schools in the community include Steve MacLean Public School (JK to Grade 8) and St. Francis Xavier High School (Grades 7 to 12, Catholic).
Riverside South usually has a lower entry price than Kanata Lakes, particularly for townhomes. HN’s Rockway was listed in Riverside South from about $922,000, compared with about $995,000 in Kanata Lakes. My Riverside South community guide, Barrhaven vs Riverside South and Manotick vs Riverside South will help you compare the area.
Rideau Ridge and Cowan’s Grove
HN lists Rideau Ridge as an upcoming community. Location, release dates and pricing had not been published as of October 2026. Cowan’s Grove in Leitrim, which HN built with Urbandale, is sold out for HN, so homes there are now resale only. If you want early details on Rideau Ridge, let me know and I’ll pass them along as soon as HN releases them.
Weighing Kanata Lakes Against Riverside South?
I can put HN’s current price lists for both communities next to recent resale sales nearby, so you can see what the design premium actually costs. Call or text (613) 601-9333.
HN Homes Models and Home Types
HN’s lineup is small and changes by release. The models below are the ones HN has published recently. Confirm the current list and specs for your phase.
Single-Family Homes
- The Haydon: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2-car garage, about 2,008 sq. ft., plus about 292 sq. ft. of finished basement.
- The Rockway: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2-car garage, about 2,173 to 2,183 sq. ft., on a 35-foot lot. Offered in Riverside South and Kanata Lakes.
- Larger plans: HN’s Kanata Lakes singles go up to about 3,637 sq. ft.
A 35-foot lot is typical for new singles in Ottawa’s suburbs. HN’s open plans and extra glazing make the interiors feel larger than the square footage suggests, which is the trade-off you are paying for.
Bungalows and Bungalows with Lofts
Bungalows are one of HN’s strengths. In Kanata Lakes they range from about 1,474 to 2,118 sq. ft., and several plans offer an optional loft.
- The Hutton: HN’s largest 44-foot bungalow, with a second-storey loft in the alternate plan, and a 2017 GOHBA award winner. It is listed at about 1,810 sq. ft. or 2,240 sq. ft. with the loft, plus finished basement options.
- The Lawson: a bungalow with an alternate layout that adds a second-storey bedroom and loft.
A bungalow with a loft suits downsizers well: everything you need is on the main floor, with a guest room or office upstairs for visiting family. It’s also a good fit for buyers planning to age in place. Read downsizing in Kanata and downsizing in Ottawa for the bigger planning picture.
Townhomes
- Kanata Lakes townhomes: about 1,414 to 2,523 sq. ft., including the Weston end and interior units, which HN has offered as move-in ready for fall 2026.
- Urban Towns (Riverside South only): three-storey back-to-back townhomes with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a garage, a basement and a covered balcony, at about 1,480 to 1,594 sq. ft.
- Terra Townhomes (Riverside South only): ask HN for current plans and pricing.
Back-to-back towns share a rear wall as well as side walls, so they get light from the front only. They cost less to buy and heat. Trade-offs include no backyard and more stairs. Compare them carefully with a standard townhome. My guide to townhouse vs detached homes covers more of the differences.
Selling First?
Find out what your home is worth and when to list it so your sale lines up with your HN closing date.
How HN Compares With Larger Ottawa Builders
- Design. HN’s main advantage. In a community full of similar elevations, an architect-designed home stands out, and some buyers will pay for that on resale.
- Price per square foot. Usually higher than a large production builder’s for the same size. You are paying for design, glazing and detailing, not just square footage.
- Choice. Fewer models and fewer lots, so popular plans and premium lots go quickly.
- Customization. Smaller builders can sometimes be more flexible on layouts. Ask early, before the agreement is signed, and get every change in writing.
- Service. Smaller doesn’t automatically mean better or worse. Check the builder’s record in the HCRA Ontario Builder Directory and ask past buyers about their PDI and warranty experience.
Compare HN with the other builders in the same communities: Urbandale, Richcraft, Minto and Claridge. My overview of the best home builders in Ottawa is a good starting point.
Sell Your Ottawa Home for Just 1% Listing Commission
Why pay 2.5% listing commission to sell your home when you don't have to? Jason Polonski lists Ottawa homes for a simple 1% listing commission. Full MLS® and REALTOR.ca exposure, professional photography, powerful online marketing, expert pricing, and a skilled negotiator fighting for every dollar of your sale price. Top-tier service — you just keep thousands more when your home sells. Smart sellers are already making the switch. Your home deserves the best, and your wallet deserves a break.
Living in a Modern, Glass-Forward Home
Large windows are what draws people to HN, and they come with practical questions that are worth asking before you sign:
- Window specs. Ask about the glazing (double or triple), the frame material and the energy rating. Ottawa winters are hard on glass.
- Orientation. South- and west-facing glass brings great winter light and summer heat. Lot orientation changes how a plan feels. Look at it on the site plan, not just the model.
- Cooling and window coverings. Budget for window coverings on large openings. Ask how the heating and cooling system was sized for that much glass.
- Privacy. Large windows facing a neighbour’s side yard 1.2 metres away feel very different from windows facing a park or pond.
From my construction background, the details I check most closely on homes like this are the window installation and air sealing, the flashing and caulking at large openings, and how water is directed away from wide door openings at grade. These are the most common warranty items on glass-heavy designs. They’re also the easiest to catch at the PDI if you know where to look.
HN Pricing and What Gets Added
HN's published prices are the starting point. Your final price usually adds lot premiums (width, corner, pond or park frontage, walkout potential), structural options such as a loft or finished basement, design selections and the closing adjustments in the agreement. Ask for the full schedule of closing adjustments before you sign; see my guide to closing costs in Ontario. On homes near or above $1 million, also ask your lawyer exactly how the HST rebate is handled in the price.
Upgrades That Are Worth It
Spend on what is hard to change later: layout, the loft, ceiling heights, window count and size, basement rough-ins, and electrical capacity such as panel size, an EV charger circuit and conduit for future solar. Leave paint, light fixtures and decorative tile until after closing if your budget is tight. Talk to your lender first, since upgrades are often paid as extra deposits.
Get Cash Back When You Buy a Home in Ottawa
Can you get cash back when buying a home in Ottawa? Yes. Jason Polonski, a Chairman's Club REALTOR® serving Ottawa and Kanata, shares part of his commission with buyers — up to $3,000 cash back at closing.* You still get full-service, award-winning representation: expert pricing, sharp negotiation, and hands-on guidance from first showing to keys in hand. No cut corners and no rebate-only shortcuts — just real money back in your pocket when you buy your Ottawa or Kanata home.
Deposits, Tarion and HST Rebates
HN enrols every home with Tarion. Most HN homes are priced above $600,000, so on a freehold purchase Tarion protects 10% of the price, to a maximum of $100,000. If HN misses a firm closing date without proper notice, you can claim up to $7,500. Register your agreement with Tarion within 45 days of signing to qualify for the maximum deposit coverage, and look up HN in the HCRA Ontario Builder Directory. The one-, two- and seven-year warranty terms are in my Tarion warranty guide.
The pre-delivery inspection is your record of the home's condition at possession. On a glass-heavy HN design, I pay particular attention to window installation, flashing and caulking at large openings.
Rebates matter more at HN's prices than at most builders'. Many HN singles and bungalows are priced near or above $1 million, where the first-time home buyers' GST/HST rebate starts to phase down, so the final price after upgrades and lot premiums can change which rebates you qualify for. Have your lawyer run the numbers before you add upgrades. The 2025 and 2026 changes, including the enhanced rebate announced in March 2026, are still settling, so ask your lawyer which ones apply before you choose upgrades. My GST/HST new home rebate guide shows how they combine.
There's no cooling-off period on a freehold home in Ontario, so a real estate lawyer should review HN's agreement before it goes firm.
Buying an HN Home?
Register me as your agent before your first visit. I'll get the current plans, pricing and adjustments, and compare them with nearby resales.
Free New Home PDI Checklist
The room-by-room checklist I use with clients at the pre-delivery inspection, so nothing gets missed before you sign.
Buying a New Build? Bring Your Own Agent to the Sales Office
The builder's sales team works for the builder. Jason Polonski works for you: comparing builders and lots, reviewing the agreement's dates and closing adjustments, and walking your pre-delivery inspection with a tradesperson's eye. Builders generally pay the buyer-side commission, so representation usually costs you nothing. Register Jason on your first visit.
How Buying an HN Home Works, Step by Step
Buying from HN follows the standard new-build sequence, from pre-approval and lot selection through deposits, design appointments, construction and the pre-delivery inspection. The HN-specific part comes early: raise layout changes before you sign and get them written into the agreement, and study the site plan to see what those large windows will face. My new home timeline lays out each stage, and my new home PDI checklist covers the final walk-through.
HN Homes vs Resale
Kanata Lakes and Riverside South both have active resale markets, so it’s worth comparing an HN home with a nearby resale before you commit. HN gives you a modern design, new systems, a Tarion warranty and a home finished your way. A resale gives you a mature lot, landscaping and fencing, a fixed closing date and often a lower price per square foot. Modern-style resales are uncommon in these suburbs, though, which is part of HN’s appeal on resale later. See new build vs resale.
Is an HN Home Right for You?
- Move-up buyers who want a design-led single in Kanata Lakes or Riverside South.
- Downsizers who want a premium bungalow, ideally with a loft for guests.
- Buyers who value light and layout over getting the most square footage for the price.
- First-time or budget-focused buyers looking at Urban Towns in Riverside South.
If price per square foot or a wide range of models matters most to you, compare a larger builder in the same community first.
Buying an HN Home While Selling Your Current One
Most HN buyers I work with own a home in Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven or Nepean, and their new home is 12 to 24 months away. My job is to help you avoid a timing mistake first, then get you the best price on your current home. We price it before you sign (start with what's my home worth), set your sale's closing against HN's firm date rather than its first estimate, and arrange bridge financing early in case the two overlap. More in selling and buying at the same time and should I sell first or buy first?
Why Use Your Own REALTOR® for an HN Home
HN's sales team works for HN. I work for you, from comparing lots and plans to checking the agreement with your lawyer and attending the PDI. In most Ottawa new-home sales the builder pays the buyer's agent, and I confirm that in writing before your first visit. See do you need a REALTOR® for new construction?
Over more than 15 years I've helped hundreds of buyers and sellers across Ottawa. I came to real estate from the construction and electrical trades, with a technical diploma in Construction Electricity, so on a design-led home I read the drawings for window, flashing and electrical details, not just the floor plan. Read more about me or see my Google reviews.
HN Homes FAQ
HN Homes builds at The Pond in Kanata Lakes (Kanata North) and in Riverside South (south Ottawa). It has listed Rideau Ridge as an upcoming community. Its homes at Cowan’s Grove in Leitrim are sold out.
HN Homes works with Ottawa architect Christopher Simmonds. His influence shows in the modern elevations, large windows and open, light-filled plans.
Yes. In Kanata Lakes, HN’s bungalows range from about 1,474 to 2,118 sq. ft., and several plans offer an optional loft. They include The Hutton, a 44-foot bungalow that won GOHBA Housing Design Awards in 2017.
Recent HN listings put the Rockway single at about $922,000 in Riverside South and about $995,000 in Kanata Lakes. The Hutton bungalow with loft started at about $1.14 million in Kanata Lakes in fall 2026. Lot premiums, upgrades and closing adjustments are extra.
Urban Towns are HN’s three-storey back-to-back townhomes in Riverside South, with 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a garage, a basement and a covered balcony, at about 1,480 to 1,594 sq. ft. They are not offered in Kanata Lakes.
HN homes usually cost more per square foot than similar-sized homes from large production builders, because of the architect-led design and lower volumes. Compare included features and lot premiums, not just base prices.
For freehold homes over $600,000, which includes most HN homes, Tarion protects 10% of the purchase price up to $100,000. Register your purchase agreement with Tarion within 45 days of signing to qualify for the maximum coverage.
You don’t need one, but the model home staff represent HN, not you. In most Ottawa new-home sales the builder pays the buyer’s agent, so your own representation usually costs you nothing extra if your agent is registered on your first visit.
